Shocked by the wretchedness of the latest release by the world’s most important rapper, I’ve returned to Kendrick Lamar’s Mr. Morales & the Big Steppers every few weeks since its release in May. It gets worse with each listen. Uninspired, self-pitying and vainglorious, Lamar all but acknowledges the album is a compulsory product rather than a meaningful artistic statement. Watching the corresponding concert video verified my impression. I long for a return to the brilliance Lamar displayed in the previous decade.
I'm Down with O.P.P. (Other Peoples' Pulitzers)
For the second time in the last 24 days I’ve attended a performance of a work by a recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Music in the presence of the composer. On Wednesday, October 26, Raven Chacon, the winner of the 2022 Pulitzer, heard what he estimated was the tenth reading of his “American Ledger no. 1” at Agnes Arts.
I was torn between laughing in appreciative wonder and crying with profound grief in response to the unconventional composition addressing the gradual dispossession of the continent from Native Americans. An enormous copy of the graphic sheet music allowed the audience of about 150 to follow along with a ten-piece ensemble conducted by Paul Rudy.
With a couple accomplished locally based jazz musicians in the group conducted by Paul Rudy, the composition occasionally contained elements of swing absence from an excellent rendering of “American Ledger no. 1” in Houston. Here’s my brief but representative video clip from Agnes Arts.
Earlier this month I marveled at sitting near 2011 Pulitzer recipient Zhou Long as his “Spirit of Chimes” was performed at a lightly attended concert in Kansas City. There weren’t many more people at a 2018 performance of Julia Wolfe’s Pulitzer-winning “Anthracite Fields” at the Folly Theater. And yes, Wolfe was in the house.
I’ve attended performances by four additional Pulitzer recipients: Ornette Coleman (2007 award), Kendrick Lamar (2018), Wynton Marsalis (1997) and Caroline Shaw (2013). Designations give the often esoteric winners prestige they might otherwise not receive, but no one needed validation from Pulitzer voters to recognize they were in the presence of greatness at Agnes Arts on Wednesday.
May 2022 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency
Top Ten Albums (Released in May, excluding 5/27 titles)
1. Mary Halvorson- Belladonna
2. Ches Smith- Interpret It Well
3. Bad Bunny- Un Verano Sin Ti
Summer soundtrack sorted.
4. Leikeli47- Shape Up
Fit.
5. John Scofield- John Scofield
Sublime solo set.
6. Shabaka- Afrikan Culture
Hushed Hutchings.
7. Daniel Villarreal- Panamá 77
International Anthem indeed.
8. Mary Halvorson- Amaryllis
My review of the companion album.
9. Andris Nelsons- Strauss
10. Kendrick Lamar- Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers
The transformation of King Kendrick into Captain Obvious is a hard pill to swallow.
Top Ten Songs (released in May)
1. Charles Stepney- “Daddy’s Diddies”
My favorite sound.
2. Tank and the Bangas with Lalah Hathaway and Jacob Collier-
Fulfillingness’ second finale.
3. Becky G- "Kill Bill"
Dead.
4. Dougie B- “I’m Back”
Bumpin’ me against the wall.
5. Flee Lord with Mephux- "Out the Mud"
True grit.
6. Hollie Cook- “Happy Hour”
Red Stripe special.
7. Ty Segall- “Saturday Pt. 2”
A stroll in Itchycoo Park.
8. Belle and Sebastian- "Do It for Your Country"
Ask not.
9. Flora- "Hey"
Ya.
10. Kevin Morby- “A Coat of Butterflies”
Hallelujah.
Top Ten Performances of May (and the last weekend of April)
1. Little Joe y La Familia at the Guadalupe Center
2. Samantha Ege at the Folly Theater
3. Logan Richardson + Blues People at the Ship
4. High Pulp at the recordBar
5. Isata and Sheku Kanneh-Mason at the Folly Theater
6. The Lyric Opera of Kansas City’s “Tosca” at Muriel Kauffman Theatre
7. Kind Folk at the Black Box
8. Drew Williams, Brandon Cooper and Seth Andrew Davis at Charlotte Street Foundation
9. Brian Scarborough Quintet at Westport Coffee House
10. Guitar Elation at Green Lady Lounge
The dueling guitars of Brian Baggett and Danny Embrey.
Last month’s survey is here.